“The art of drag is to elevate and express another side of yourself, to really highlight all the special things that make you stand out, but on a heightened level. To be able to do the same for an interior space was an absolute joy and an incredible way to celebrate PRIDE,” says stylist Jono Fleming who performed a magic makeover on Sydney-based drag queen Vybe’s lounge room recently, in celebration of PRIDE month.
“Giving a room a makeover is a pretty standard brief, but to give a room a drag makeover is something I would have never expected! The brief was to bring in colour, fun, all the things you’d expect from west elm, but with a camp twist,” says Jono who introduced splashes of colour with the west elm velvet Bradford sofa, Illusionary rug and decorative pieces.
“I focused on celebrating Vybe’s personality. She’s vibrant, bold and beautiful – the makeover was about creating joy, as well as being a mirror of Vybe’s strength, creativity – she’s a force,” says Jono.
Vybe is otherwise known as Angus Roberts and the rooms strikes a delicate balance that complements both sides of his personality. “The bold, squared off blue sofa serves a more masculine aesthetic but the velvet combined with the pinks in the rug softens the palette and adds a feminine touch. The goal was to marry two sides of a personality into one cohesive space,” says Jono.
A celebration of inclusivity, diversity and equality, the iconic PRIDE rainbow is a recurring theme in the room – from the LED coffee table light to the overall colour palette and Vybe’s denim jacket. “We’re celebrating PRIDE so the key was to use every colour in the rainbow! Being bold with colour takes a bit of a push sometimes but set against a neutral backdrop, it can really help make the colours pop and let the furniture do the talking. A bit of brass always adds a touch of glam to a space but you don’t need to go overboard, just a hint will work it’s magic,” says Jono.
And as for Vybe herself, she is rather enamoured with the new space. “I am in LOVE with the result – the space is warm, inviting, stylish and as camp as I am! I can’t wait to kick off my heels and get on the couch at the end of the day!” says Vybe.
Photography: Jacqui Turk | Styling: Jono Fleming
